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On Our Radar

This is What it Takes to be Approved for a Mortgage

Everything is coming up roses for homebuyers this season. Mortgage rates are falling, home prices are stagnant, and the nation's biggest banks have stopped tightening mortgage guidelines.

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Mortgage guidelines (finally!) loosening

Each quarter the Federal Reserve issues a comprehensive survey to its member banks regarding market conditions and current bank lending practices. The survey specifically addresses residential mortgage lending.

Last quarter, for the second straight quarter, just two "big banks" reported a tightening of their respective prime mortgage lending standards. Every other bank either left guidelines unchanged, or loosened them a bit.

This is a major reversal from just three years ago when nearly allbanks were tightening lending standards.

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What does this mean for you? For homebuyers and would-be refinancers, it may lead to simpler and quicker mortgage approvals for the rest of this year, and beyond.

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Keys to mortgage approval: The big three

It is important that you do not confuse "loosening" lending standards for "easy mortgage money." Banks are still careful about what they lend and who they lend to.

Today's mortgage approvals carry three basic requirements:

1. You must have equity

2. You must have income

3. You must have credit

You must put money down

Granted, there are specific loan programs through the VA and the USDA for which no-equity mortgages (no money down) are still available, but 100% mortgage loans are in the extreme minority. Most loans today require some equity, and the minimum equity standards are higher today than at any time in recent history.

That income better be documented

As compared to five years ago, income hurdles are higher, too.

Mortgage applicants must now meet strict debt-to-income limits, often set to 45%. This means that your monthly debts--housing costs, bills, etc.--may not exceed 45% of your documented monthly income. Lenders will verify this income via your federal tax returns.

A crafty accountant may help you at tax time, but he will not be doing you any favors with respect to your next loan application. No documented income, no approval.

Stellar credit could save you thousands

Lastly, there is the issue of credit.

Mortgages are readily available today with credit scores as low as 600, but the available interest rates are awful as compared to an applicant with credit scores in the low 700s. Banks give the best rates to applicants with credit scores over 740.

Want the best mortgage rates? You need all three

You will not get great mortgage rates simply by putting a lot of money down, or earning more than 99% of the U.S. population. The best mortgage rates are reserved for applicants that show strength across all three categories--not just one.

You will need sizable equity, strong income, and high credit scores to be considered a "prime" applicant. This will get you access to a bank's lowest mortgage rates, and make your underwriting as quick and simple as possible.